The Two Towns (The Lakeland Murders) by J. J. Salkeld Read Free Book Online Page B

Johnny?’
    ‘You do know what the word ‘missing’ means, don’t you?’
    ‘Oh, aye. Not there. Can’t be found. Like the copper’s balls are missing, say.’
    Dixon smiled. ‘Exactly.’
    ‘Can I go now? I better start looking for my brother, like.’
    ‘That’s very public spirited of you, Pete. But before you go I want to ask you about the call that your brother made to you, at about 11pm on Wednesday. Can you remember what that was about?’
    Graham shook his head, and furrowed his brow. It really did almost look as if he was trying to remember.
    ‘Sorry, no. I’d probably had a few by then though.’
     
    Dixon sat back. ‘So what you’re saying to us is that you called and texted your brother on Wednesday night to ask him to buy food, but you don’t remember why you wanted him to meet you, where you were at the time, or what he said when he called you later in the evening? Is that about it?’
    ‘That’s right. Spot on, aye. Well done.’
    ‘I’m afraid I don’t believe you. Do you, DC Francis?’
    ‘I don’t. Not a word.’ Jane saw the smirk just starting to curl Graham’s lips, safe in the knowledge that the interview was coming to an end and that he had revealed nothing. It wasn’t an unexpected outcome, but it was still annoying. Then it came to her, like a revelation. And she knew, with absolute certainty, that she was right.
    ‘I’ll tell you exactly what I think you wanted with your brother, shall I?’
    ‘If you must.’
    ‘You wanted him to do something for you, and he didn’t want to do it. He’s hiding from you, Pete, isn’t he? That’s why he’s gone missing.’
    ‘Fuck off.’ Graham almost shouted, and Mr. White almost said something.
    Jane was about to follow up, knowing that she’d hit home, when she felt a hand on her knee. It took her a fraction of a second to realise that it was Dixon’s, and that she should shut up.
    ‘We’ll leave it there for now’ said Dixon, smiling across at White. ‘But we’ll see you again very soon, won’t we, Pete?’
    ‘Not if I see you first, like.’
     
    An hour later, when Jane and Ray Dixon walked into Hall’s office, they found Ian Mann already there. He and Hall were listening to the end of the interview with Pete Graham.
    ‘All right, impressions please’ said Hall, looking at Jane and Dixon.
    ‘Jane scored a bloody bullseye’ said Dixon. ‘No doubt about it. Pete looked like he wanted to lamp her, right there and then.’
    ‘Jane?’
    ‘I have that effect on people, boss. And I’m sorry if I just blurted it out. Maybe I should have waited.’
    ‘No, you did right. But well done for closing it down so quickly afterwards, Ray. What you showed in there was good teamwork, and I’m bloody grateful. It doesn’t matter how clever cons are, because in the end it’s every man for himself in their world, but we do our best work when we play as a team. So we all agree then? Jane’s hypothesis fits the facts, and Graham’s reaction is supportive of it, yes?’ Three heads nodded. ‘OK, so what are our next steps?’
    ‘Let’s get eyes on Pete Graham’ said Mann. ‘Maybe he goes looking for his brother because of this, and even if he doesn’t we might find out why the kid did a vanishing act.’
    ‘Can we resource that though, boss?’ asked Jane. ‘You’re talking about a big team for a 24-hour oppo.’
    Dixon laughed. ‘Not when you’ve got a one man army on the team, lass.’ He pointed across at Mann. ‘I know he looks hard to miss, but Ian used to spend weeks in ditches just watching and waiting, so he doesn’t need much in the way of support.’
    ‘A sandwich and a flask and I’ll be reet’, said Mann. ‘There’s an intelligence file on the little scumbag too, so he’ll not be hard to find either.’
    ‘Are you happy to start tomorrow?’ said Hall.
    ‘Tonight, Andy, tonight. That poor kid could be anywhere, like.’
    ‘All right. But for Christ’s sake go home when Graham looks like he’s